Closure unit



Filed Jan. 15, 1951 l /H 4 n W 6 l 5\ 2 f F F 3 6 l 2 7/ 2 07m M rl o s w MM a/J/ 9% m/ @j n a W\\ M 5 7 k Sept. 14, 1954 IN VEN TOR. Joh H. sdm/al ffy.

alli-'W Patented Sept. 14,F 1954 CLOSURE UNIT John H. Schmid, Erie, Pa., assignor to J. A. Zurn Mfg. Co., Erie, Pa., a corporation of Pennsyl- Vania Application January 15, 1951, Serial No. 205,997

1 Claim. l This invention relates generally to closure units and more particularly to a novel closure for a cleanout opening in a pipe line or the like and sealing means therefor.

All devices of this character, made in accordance with the teachings of the prior art, have had very poor seals so that there would be leakage of sewer gas where a cleanout openingunit was connected to a sewer line. A sealing member has been found suitable for short periods of time in closure units; however, the caulking material is forced between the threads on the cleanout plug and the internal threaded portion of the pipe end in which it is threadably engaged so that it is practically impossible to remove the plug without destroying it. Furthermore, it has not been possible to remove the plugs in these prior closure units and replace them without destroying the seal. Sealing material also works out of these prior devices, thereby causing leakages. It has also been difficult to caulk or otherwise force the caulking or casting material into sealing engagementwith the plug and its engaging hub in these prior closure units. No suitable fit, thereby increasing the cost of manufacture thereof. Prior closure units corrode rapidly.

It is, accordingly, an object of my invention to overcome the above and other defects in closure units and it is more particularly an object of my invention to provide a closure unit and sealing means therefor which is simple in construction, economical in cost, economical in manufacture, and easy to assemble and disassemble.

Another object of my invention is to provide novel means for closing and sealing a cleanout opening in a pipe line.

Another object of my invention is to provide novel means of caulking a closure in the end of a pipe without forcing the caulking material into the threads of the closure member and pipe.

Another object of my invention is to provide caulking or sealing material for a closure member in the vend of a pipe which permits comparatively easy removal of the closure member or plug.

Another object of my invention is to provide a sealing member for a cleanout plug which is not destroyed when the plug is removed from the end of a pipe.

Another object of my invention is to provide a closure unit in which a vclose threaded t is not required.

Another object of my invention is to provide novel means for sealing a closure member in the end of a pipe which holds the caulking material in sealing relationship with the plug and prevents it from working out and becoming loose.

Another object of my invention is to provide a minimum of corrosion in a closure unit.

Other objects of my invention will become evident from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a plan view of my novel closure unit;

Fig. 2 is a view taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. l; and I Fig. 3 is a vertical cross sectional view of a modified form of my novel closure unit.

Referring now to the drawings, I show in Figs. 1 and 2 a cylindrical member I forming the end of a pipe or the. like and comprising a cleanout opening leading to a pipe, tank, or any other similar container unit. The member I is flanged outwardly at 2 and flared angularly upwardly at 3. An internal shoulder 4 is normal to the axis of the cylindrical member I and connects the inner tapered surface 5 of the flared out portion 3 with the internally threaded portion 6 of the member I. A cleanout plug or closure member l is externallyA threaded vat 6 for threadable engagement with the threaded portion 6 of the member I. The upper end of the closure member 1 has an outwardly directed flanged portion 1a with a tapered periphery 'lb spaced from the flared portion 3 of the member I. The lower surface 9 of the flanged portion 'la is substantially parallel to the shoulder 4 of the member I. A tapered surface 9a merges into the under surface 9 of the flange la and the outer side of the closure member l. The shoulder 4 has a raised annular bead vII formed thereon spaced from the inner margin thereof in substantially opposed axially spaced relationship to a depending annular bead I2 on the lower face 9 of the flanged portion la of the closure member l. The closure member l has an annular groove I3 with the upper side I4 thereof in substantial alignment with the surface of the shoulder 4 of the member I. Caulking material I5, such as lead or other suitable material, is disposed between the shoulder 4 and the outwardly directed flanged portion la of the closure member 'I.

In connecting and sealing my novel closure unit, I rstinsert the closure member 'I in the member I as shown particularly in Fig. 2 with the upper side of the closure memberl in substantially the same horizontal plane as the top of the flared portion 3 of the member I and with the upper side I4 of the groove I3 in substantially the same horizontal plane as the face of theshoulder 4 of the member I. Caulking material I5 is then cast or inserted between the shoulder 4 of the member I and the outwardly directed flange la of the closure member 1. After the caulking material I5 is positioned, the closure member l is then rotated, if this is possible, a slight amount to thoroughly compress the caulking material I5 and seal the closure unit. The

of the closure member l.

`marginal edge thereof.

Y `opposing beads II and I2 will thus force the caulking material I into sealing vrelationship with the outer :side of the closure `member I and hold it in this relationship. Any excess caulking material I5 will escape into the groove I3, thus assisting in sealing the closure unit without fouling the threads so that the closure member I `may be easily rotated and vremoved from the member I and again inserted therein. The caulking material I5 is caulked with a suitable caulking tool at Il, the tapered inner surface 5 of the flared portion 3 assisting in forcing the caulking material I5 into engagement with the outer wall The tapered surfaces lb and 9a on the closure member 'I minimize the resistance to rotation and upward movement of the closure member I'so that it may be easily removed and replaced without destroying the seal. The top surface of the closure member .I can be left a fraction of an inch above the scribed when the caulking material I5 is poured at the time of assembly.

In Fig. 3, I show a modified form of my invention which has substantially the same construction and use as my closure unit shown in Figs. 1 and .2. Fig. 3 shows an end of a tubular member 29 having stepped inner shoulders 2I, 22,

` and 23 formed on the inner side of an outwardly l fiared portion 24. Intermediate shoulder 22 has a raised annular bead 2'5 spaced from the inner A closure member 26 hasl a threaded Iportion 21 for ythreadable engagement with the threaded portion 28 ofthe member 29. The closuremem'ber'26 .also has an outwardly directed flanged ,portion 29 on the upper end thereof which fits snugly into the upper recessed portion'in the upper end of the member 20. A

` caulking ring 3l) of lead or like material is disposed between the shoulder '22 of the member 20 and the under side 3l ofthe outwardly directed flange 29 on the closure member 25. The outwardly directed flange 29 has a depending annular bead '32 on the under side thereof which is in opposed relationship with the bead on the shoulder 22 ofthe member 20. The offset portion .Y 33 .is spaced from'the threads '21 of the closure member 26 to provide lan open annular space to l receive the caulking ring '39 forced therein and to prevent it from fouling the threads 2l and 28. In the assembly lof my closure unit shown in Fig. 3, the caulking ring v of annular configura- 1 tion Vis disposed on the shoulder 22 of the member 20. The closure member 26 is then threadably engaged with the threaded portion 28 of the member 2i). In drawing up the closure memis first, disposed on the shoulder 22 so that the `outer upper side of the Vcaulking ring 3u may 4 expand and move into the open space formed between the vshoulder 2-3 and the flanged portion 29 of the plug or closure member 26 so that perfect sealing is assured.

There is no close threaded t required in my novel closure unit to obtain a seal. A loose threaded connection is desirable in my closure unit. There is nortendency toward corrosion in my closure unit.

It will be evident from the foregoing description that I have provided a novel closure unit which is particularly adaptable for use as a cleanout plug in an opening in a pipe line, which has novel caulking meansfor sealing the closure unit, which prevents caulking -material from fouling up threads of the closure unit, which permits easy insertion and removal of the closure member or cleanout plug without destroying the seal, which minimizes corrosion, which permits comparatively free rotation of the cleanout plug or closure member at al1 times, and which is very easy to install.

lVarious changes may be made in the specific embodiment of my invention without departing from the spirit thereof or from the scope of the appended claim.

`What I claim is:

A closure unit for a drainage pipe comprising an internally threaded cylindrical member having an 'internal shoulder rin the upper end thereof, an outwardly and upwardly angularly ared portion on the upper end of said cylindrical member extending from rthe outer side of said shoulder, a closure member havingI a threaded portion in threadable engagement with the threaded portion of said cylindrical member, an outwardly flanged portion on said closure member having the outer side .thereof tapered and spaced from said outwardly flared Iportion of said cylindrical member, `a second outwardly flared portion on said closure member adjacent said threaded portion, a Vlead caulking material vdisposed between said shoulder and Aflared portion of said cylindrical member and the underside of said flanged portion of said closure member through the space between said outwardly flared portion of said .cylindrical member and the outer side of the anged portion of said closure member, said lead caulking material completely filling the space between the flanged portion of said closure 4member and the shoulder and the outwardly flared portion of said cylindrical member, a rst annular bead on said internal shoulder of said cylindrical member, and an annular beadon said oufwardly flanged `portion in opposed relation and in axial alignment with said rst bead whereby said lead caulking material is forced into engagement with said shoulder and said flanges.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,566,983 Sheriff Dec. 22, 1925 1,798,491 Perry Mar. 31, 1931 1,864,957 vStout June 28, 1932 1,911,455 Lui May 30, 1933 1,972,156 McCrudden Sept. 4, v1931 .2,169,312 Wilking Aug. l5, 1939 2,191,902 Wheaton Feb. 27, 1940 2,343,235 Bashark Feb. 29, 1944 2,371,633 Lippincott Mar. 20, 1945 2,451,599 Wiltse Oct. 19, 1948 2,537,249 Walton Jan. 9, 1951 

